AMP Music Minute:Katy Perry Days Away From SNL Hosting Gig, Usher & Taio Cruz Work On Being ‘Soulful’ & ‘Catchy,’ And Beyonce Sued By Video Game Company

[lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Katy Perry[/lastfm] is gearing up to take on one of comedy’s biggest gigs: hosting Satuday Night Live. This weekend, Katy will take on hosting responsibilities on the SNL show that will feature [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Robyn[/lastfm] as the musical guest.

Yesterday, NBC released a promo featuring the pop-singer and SNL cast member, Kenan Thompson in what seems to be spoof outtakes of them making a promo for the show.

[photogallerylink id=94880 align=right]In one of the humorous takes Katy is seen mocking her husband and comedian Russell Brand when Kenan prompts her with the question “Did your husband Russell Brand give you any hosting tips?” To which the singer put on her best Russell (accent and arms included) and responded “He said ‘Talk like this, look like this, and be a bit cheeky.'”

Thompson and a blonde Perry banter back and forth through the sketch giving the audience a lot to look forward to as Katy explores her acting chops.

This isn’t her first time on the show. Back in 2010 she was featured in a sketch or two when she was the musical guest on the show. This time she won’t double up her duties on the sketch show, as her touring partner, Robyn will have the opportunity to showcase her songs to the SNL audience.

Be sure to tune in on Saturday, December 10th at 11:30 PM PST.

SNL Promo Featuring Katy Perry

Are you looking forward to seeing Katy on SNL? Speak your mind in the comments! Waka waka waka!

[photogallerylink id=133791 align=left]Soulful crooner, [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Usher[/lastfm], has been making the rounds lately with his big hit, “Without You” with [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]David Guetta[/lastfm]. But he’s been making time to work on his upcoming album in the meantime as well. One of the writers of the hit song, [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Taio Cruz[/lastfm], touched base on what to expect from Usher’s new album.

Apparently, Usher has taken point on this project and as Taio insists, has a strong vision about what he wants from this album. “I saw Usher a few times, but I spoke to him at length at David [Guetta]’s house when we were in Ibiza [Spain],” Cruz told reporters. “He has very specific ideas of where he wants to go musically and sound-wise.”

But while Mr. Raymond knows what he wants from the album, he isn’t above compromising. In fact, the idea for the next album is to combine the worlds of R&B based Usher with the popular electro-dance craze that Taio has mastered.

“He always wants there to be the soul in there,” Taio explained. “I’m kind of, not the opposite, but I’m always like, ‘Let’s get straight to the point and be really clear with the message and be simple.'”

“So we try to match those two worlds together: being soulful and, at the same time, catchy,” he added.

The sound Usher is looking for is a complete meeting of the mind, body and soul, some would say. But Taio couldn’t say much else, besides “Without You,” he said, “Everything else is secret.”

We can’t wait for the new usher album. There is a real absence of the soul sound in pop music these days and Usher is certainly a great candidate to bring that back.

Usher – “Without You”

Are you excited for Usher’s new album? Interested in hearing more soul in his music? Tell us, comment.

[photogallerylink id=81536 align=left]Uh oh! Looks like all is not happy in [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Beyonce[/lastfm]-land. The platinum-selling pop star and wife to rap mogul, [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Jay-Z[/lastfm], has been slapped with a 100 million dollar law suit from video game company, Gate Five.

Beyonce and her lawyers immediately tried to have the case thrown out when it was first served in April of this year. Unfortunately for the Knowles-Carter camp, the judge sides with the gaming company, ruling that they were allowed to proceed with their lawsuit.

The terms of the lawsuit that have been reported so far claim that Beyonce “abruptly abandoned” a video game development project called “Starpower: Beyonce” being produced by the company, Gate Five, even though it seemed that there were no problems with the game from the beginning. The dance-themed game uses a motion-sensor format and featured music from the pregnant singer.

Gate Five asserts that Bey’s withdrawal from the project forced them to have to lay-off 70 employees.

If this claim holds up, Bey could be doling out loads of cash we’re sure she’s saved up for her baby. Especially in these harsh economic times, when jobs are a commodity of their own, Beyonce and her lawyers could face a tough decision.

We hope the full details come out of this case. We’ll keep you posted!